• Training

  US Navy has bold plans for future aviator training

  3rd November 2021

  The USN has published its vision for future aviation training that covers the gamut of live, virtual and constructive training — but achieving its goal will present a massive challenge.

• Defence Notes

  USN orders support for ram-air parachutes

  5th November 2021

  SSK Industries to provide critical safety items for ram-air parachutes used by SOF.

• Naval Warfare

  Five USN ship classes to undergo maintenance

  2nd November 2021

  Fincantieri Marine Systems is among three companies picked by the USN for ship repair, maintenance and modernisation of ships based at Mayport.

• Defence Notes

  Turkish F-16s and USVs, plus AESA technology (podcast)

  22nd October 2021

  Welcome to Episode 42 of the third series of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

• Air Warfare

  ROKAF selects ISR aircraft, eyes ISTAR fleet

  22nd November 2021

  South Korea's air force is seeking to seriously boost its ISR capability with two new fleets of aircraft. This is in addition to a separate AEW&C programme.

• Defence Notes

  US accelerates hypersonic weapon development

  25th October 2021

  Latest flight campaign reflects DoD priority to field hypersonic weapons by the mid-2020s.

• Naval Warfare

  Rolls-Royce opens USN support facility

  29th October 2021

  Rolls-Royce completes new waterjet MRO facility while it reports increased demand for work related to Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) vessels.

• Digital Battlespace

  USN orders spare parts for EO sensors

  27th October 2021

  Teldeyne FLIR to provide spare parts for four different EO systems.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea selects its future CIWS maker

  4th November 2021

  A South Korean firm has emerged triumphant in a two-horse race to develop a new close-in weapon system for the South Korean navy.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Orbital signs MoU with Skyways

  1st November 2021

  Orbital UAV expects to play a part in a USN unmanned cargo transportation programme.

• Air Warfare

  CROWN fosters innovation and technological sovereignty

  28th October 2021

  CROWN will make a significant contribution towards building European defence capability and ensuring industrial independence

• Naval Warfare

  HII struggles to grow despite Alion acquisition

  11th November 2021

  Huntington Ingalls Industries has released its Q3 2021 report, showing limited growth from Q3 2020.

• Digital Battlespace

  Sea Fire passes qualification milestone

  22nd October 2021

  AESA radar is ready for integration by Naval Group aboard FDI frigates.

• Naval Warfare

  Senators criticise USN budget manoeuvring

  26th October 2021

  The US Senate Appropriations Committee has criticised the USN, saying the service submits budgets to Congress that underfund critical programmes with the expectation that lawmakers would restore the funds.

• Air Warfare

  Canadian Hornets to receive improved radar

  23rd September 2021

  New AESA radar systems will equip RCAF CF-18As by March 2024.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey (USN)

  Programme Background Requirement According to USN FY2023 Budget Estimate documentation, the V-22 programme provides an aircraft to meet the amphibious and vertical assault needs of ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-8C Fire Scout (USA)

  Programme Background Timeline According to the Naval Air Systems Command, having first ordered the MQ-8B in 2009, the UAV has become a pillar of the ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USN)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirement The USN wants to acquire carrier-capable loyal wingman drones. These drones will have a high level of autonomy, allowing them to work alongside crewed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4 Triton (Announced/Contracted) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent real-time intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft Procurement [Italy]

  Programme Background In an appearance before the Italian parliament’s Foreign and Defence Affairs Committee on 14 July 2022, Italian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Adm ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  JLTV Oshkosh Contract (US Navy) [US]

  As of November 2020, the US DoD had signed 14 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches of ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-25 Stingray (Selected) [USA]

  Programme Background Initial Requirments - Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) Despite the abovementioned goal, the programme did not begin with this in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Blackwing (Second Batch) [USA]

  Programme BackgroundFirst Batch The Blackwing originated from a 2013 initiative to develop a low-cost submarine-launched UAS for the US Navy. Following successful tests with the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  LCAC 100 Class (SSC) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline The major role of the SSC will be deployment from landing ships in support of USN and USMC operations and the transport ...